Company History
Creating Business Opportunity Leads
Our groups will provide lead generation systems that turn a lead into a customer. This is not lead generation for recruiting purposes for network marketing businesses. I Take The Lead is about business opportunity leads, bringing sales source leads to your business. Please see the Meeting Location page for how many groups we have and where they meet. We will help start a new group in most locations. We continually provide seminars and workshops to improve our members, including sales training, goal setting, and other educational formats.
I Take The Lead is community-oriented. Lead With Heart is our annual program where every Valentine’s Day we collect, stage and deliver food baskets to families in need in the local communities serviced by I Take The Lead, Inc. We host other community programs during the year, as well; we are about having fun while helping people. (See the Why We're Different page to find out what sets us apart.)
Lead With Heart
Rea
How are you! I feel so blessed that I am part of I Take the Lead. I
turned in two names of friends that were in huge need right now. One
family lost their jobs and have a 3 year old and a 4 month old girls. The
mom called in the morning before the boxes of food arrived and said that
they paid all their bills but did not have the money for their house
payment. She was crying as she said:. I think we could go without water
before we can go without a house. Then she got a call that he got a
second job to supplement the job he got at Home Depot -- so now with
both jobs he will make almost as much as he did in his old job. So now
they just have all this catch up to do. Well. One hour later she called
and was crying and said she just got all this food and she could not
believe that anyone would care how they are doing like that.
The other one that I turned in... he has been sick and at ICU in the
Veterans hospital. The boxes of food came just before he died. It was
perfect timing. It is nice that people care about each other.
Love and hugs,
MF
http://www.johnmtharp.com/leadheart
Business-to-Business Meetings
In 2004, I Take The Lead initiated Business-to-Business meetings. We have found this to be an extremely successful vehicle for professionals whose primary target market is other businesses, rather than the consumer. For example, residential realtors work with the consumer. These are the people they are coming into contact with on a daily basis. Professionals who are in merchant services (sign up businesses for credit card capabilities) need exposure to businesses, rather than the residential consumer. This is a unique feature of I Take The Lead; other leads groups do not have a Business-2-Consumer focus separate from the Business-2-Business focus.
2007 marks the year of national expansion for I Take The Lead by offering franchise opportunities to business partners. If you are interested in learning more, see Become a Franchisee.
20 Most Commonly Asked Questions about iTTL
1. What is i Take The Lead? - I Take The Lead is an organization that builds referral groups. They are groups of professionals who meet on a weekly to exchange qualified leads and build business alliances. There is only one person in each group from each profession, so there is no conflict of interest.
2. Why would I pay for a leads/referral group? - iTTL is the best way to build a referral-based business. Referral business is always much better than cold calling. iTTL is an affordable alternative to the expensive leads groups out there and an effective alternative to free leads group. There is a distinct difference.
3. Where does the money go? - I Take The Lead is a corporation with business expenses like any other business. Ex, iTTL maintains a fully optimized website and provides a deep level of group support. Most people that understand REALLY appreciate the support that is available.
4. Do I have to attend the meetings every week? - I Take The Lead does have a lenient attendance policy. You may miss up to 12 times per year, due to travel, illness, unforeseen circumstances. However, in order to really benefit you need to be at the meetings on a weekly basis.
5. What if I don’t have any leads/referrals to pass? - A referral/lead in iTTL is a qualified lead, so it’s better to pass fewer referrals, as long as they’re qualified. Bringing a guest is also a referral for I Take The Lead.
6. What are the costs associated with the membership? - For a B2C group, there is a nominal monthly fee of $25. B2B groups are $50 per month. All fee schedules and paperwork for membership will be provided.
7. I work for a telecom, merchant services, IT, etc company. I never seem to get referrals from other leads groups. How can iTTL help me? - If you work for telecom, merchant services, IT, companies that are typically B2B, you need to be in a B2B networking referral group, in order to get referrals. Traditional referral groups have wonderful professionals, but they simply are not seeing the clientele you need to build your sales. Traditional groups are mostly ineffective for these people.
8. I saw on the website that iTTL has B2B groups and B2C groups. What is the difference? - Members must qualify for B2B. B2B iTTL groups are strictly for businesses/sales reps who target other larger businesses, rather than the individual. It’s generally more of the corporate environment, rather than working with the entrepreneur. For instance, a financial representative would join a B2B with the intention of getting referrals for setting up 401-K employee plans, rather than working with the CEO or business owner.
9. What is a qualified lead/referral? - In iTTL, when you pass a referral, you’ve asked for permission ahead of time for the member to call them. Example, I ask Ann if it’s ok for Don to call her, before I pass her info on to Don. When Don calls, Ann says, YES, I want to talk with you.
10. How are the meetings run? Is there an agenda? - We have an easy agenda to follow. For startups, iTTL will run the meetings until we have Co-directors in place. We believe in the KISS method, keep it simple.
11. Am I going to be required to bring guests? - It’s important that everyone commit to bringing guests, in order to grow the team. We will provide information about how to invite guests, if you do not know anyone. WE (iTTL) WILL HELP YOU grow the group, which most people agree is huge; however, the members must also be willing to do what it takes.
12. Who runs the meetings? - Members will be managing the meetings once we set up the Officer Duties. In iTTL, we create an environment of teamwork. Everyone shares in helping the group; therefore, no one person is expected to do it all. WE DO provide continual support, as well.
13. What if I want to bring my husband/wife, an associate, a friend, etc? - The more, the merrier! There is NO extra charge for people in the same business.
14. I already belong to another leads group. Is that a problem? - Not for iTTL. We have no policies stating you can not belong to other referral groups.
15. I belong to a Chamber of Commerce/another organization. Is that a conflict? - I Take The Lead encourages belonging to other community organizations.
16. I work with an MLM company. Is it ok to recruit people for my business? - The purpose of the referral group is to exchange referrals/leads, not to recruit. Recruiting during meeting time is not allowed; however, if someone approaches you to ask about becoming a distributor outside the meeting time, that is perfectly fine.
17. How many members should there be in a group? - We think 15 to 18 members for a B2C group is a great number to strive for. However, it’s best to always be on the lookout for guests. Constantly having guests creates an exciting environment, even if they don’t join.
18. I heard someone can get ‘free’ dues. How does that work? - As a matter of fact, iTTL has members who never pay dues. When you invite a guest to any of our meetings, and if that guest joins iTTL, you can get a $25 credit toward your dues by following our terms. We also have special promotions from time to time, like weekend trips, etc, in addition to the free dues.
19. Will you put all of the members’ info on the iTTL website? - ITTL has an opt-in system, rather than put everyone’s info out on the website. If you’d like to have your info/website/e-mail address on the iTTL website, all you have to do is provide some kind of testimonial – for iTTL, for your group, for one of your fellow members, etc. This will be placed on the testimonial page of www.itakethelead.com
20. What is the difference between I Take The Lead and BNI and LeTip? - They’re all great organizations. You can see some of the ways iTTL is different by clicking on the tab that says “Why we’re Different” at the top of the page. Our members REALLY appreciate the differences.
The People Behind the Scenes
Gene Hamilton founded a company called Take The Lead Inc in December of 1999, while Becky Tengwall started a large referral group for a non-profit organization in 2000. In 2005 they changed the name of the company to I Take The Lead Inc. Together Gene and Becky used their skills and experience to found I Take The Lead Franchise Corp when they decided to take their unique model and expand nationally in 2007.
Gene Hamilton - CEO of I Take The Lead, Inc.
Gene served in the US Air Force where he specialized in missile maintenance. He has run several businesses including his own independent insurance agency. A long-time member of Toastmasters International, Gene has achieved the highest award, Distinguished Toastmaster, 3 times. In 1992/1993, Gene served as the District Governor for Toastmasters in his district, the state of Oregon and SW Washington , which is made up of roughly 160 individual clubs and about 3000 members. That year the district was #3 in the world and became the Presidents Distinguished District. Also, in 1991, Gene was the number 1 recruiter of new Toastmasters in the world, out of about 180,000 people worldwide and achieved this honor by recruiting 107 new members that year. He has started dozens of new Toastmaster clubs around the state; this has provided the emphasis for I Take The Lead, Inc. He is a past member of the board of directors for the Mt Hood Repertory Theatre Company, East County 's only professional theatre company. Additionally, Gene was also a long-standing member of Tigard Rotary. Rotary is an international organization that provides funds for the eradication of polio, facilitating student exchange programs and numerous other community benefits. Gene continues to remain active in the community and community events.
Becky Tengwall - COO of I Take The Lead, Inc.
Becky has been instrumental in the membership growth and retention of I Take The Lead members. Being Membership Manager for the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce, gave Becky an opportunity to learn how to grow the membership for an organization, as well learn the importance of membership retention. It was as Membership Manager that Becky started their leads program called Leads And Needs. Having a passion for community involvement, she is a past member of the board of directors for the East Portland Chamber of Commerce, and is now a member of Soroptimist International, an organization devoted to helping children and women in need, as well as being a member of WEO. While raising her children, she returned to college to receive her Bachelor of Science from Portland State University in Accounting/ Business Administration. Additionally, Becky has been an Account Manager for businesses-helping them with their needs in advertising and marketing. She, also, has a passion for staying connected to the community and community events. |